Tourist Creek, WRR

Lowro

Flatlander
Joined
Jan 15, 2017
Messages
27
I am considering a solo route this summer up Tourist Creek then up and around Sourdough and out past Slide Lake. Thinking of staying near Scott Lk, visiting Mammoth then moving on to Flagstone Lk. Then over to Baker Lk and to Elbow and Slide Lakes. It's a combination of Pallisters routes 38 and 40. Thinking 7 nights would give time to enjoy some of the surrounding area. Short mileage days but they look like there could be a couple difficult days. Does anyone have experience with any sections of this route that would have any advice or suggestions? Thanks
 
Been in some of that area. I'll have to check my copy of Pallister's guide after work to see if I have anything specific to add. I have not been up Tourist Creek but want to do it someday. It's rough country but worth it if you like that kind of thing.
 
It's rough country but worth it if you like that kind of thing.
I’ve been through Split Mountain, up and down Tourist and by Baker. Some very tough going. Tricky route finding. Good physical fitness and experienced judgement highly recommended. Watch your footing. Be prepared for possible harsh weather delays of a day or more in exposed conditions.


7AEEA3D6-5BB9-4BF8-A7D8-2DE4685F3C80.jpeg
 
Last edited:
@Dreamer how is it going through Split Mountain? I've eyed that way on maps for years, and still haven't determined if it's something I'd like to attempt. Not sure if it is more of a climber's route or something a backpacker of the appropriate skill could do. I would really prefer to make a pass through from split mountain pass and over toward baker/iceberg instead of going up tourist creek, just because I like the route options better.
 
It's rough country but worth it if you like that kind of thing.

It‘s scrambling or as I like to call it ‘athletic’ backpacking. I think it qualifies as mountaineering. Not super hard or scary, but a little class 3 and some risk. We had axes and saw no crevasses but followed others tracks and they could be there. I was a bit concerned so I found some nice experienced folks to do the route with. It doesn’t have the big boulders that Tourist Ck does but is steeper. Early season snow on the southern side could be a problem.

7718DBDA-575F-4830-826C-665B7ACD7443.jpeg
 
Last edited:
I am considering a solo route this summer up Tourist Creek then up and around Sourdough and out past Slide Lake. Thinking of staying near Scott Lk, visiting Mammoth then moving on to Flagstone Lk. Then over to Baker Lk and to Elbow and Slide Lakes. It's a combination of Pallisters routes 38 and 40. Thinking 7 nights would give time to enjoy some of the surrounding area. Short mileage days but they look like there could be a couple difficult days. Does anyone have experience with any sections of this route that would have any advice or suggestions? Thanks

Tourist creek was pretty tough many many years ago..... Don't think it's changed.... Not a place I wanted to go back too....lol
 
I’ve been through Split Mountain, up and down Tourist and by Baker. Some very tough going. Tricky route finding. Good physical fitness and experienced judgement highly recommended. Watch your footing. Be prepared for possible harsh weather delays of a day or more in exposed conditions.

View attachment 95628
lower Tourist Creek

View attachment 95629
more Tourist Creek

View attachment 95630
view towards Mammoth Glacier, Scott Lk is down in the hole between the mid and foreground

View attachment 95631
some of the easy stuff, not so easy Klondike/Pedestal in the background

View attachment 95632
looking down Klondike/Pedestal

View attachment 95633
a look over Baker towards where you would go
Great pics, thanks. Tourist Creek does look punishing. I think the solitude and surroundings would be most incredible though.
 
Tourist creek was pretty tough many many years ago..... Don't think it's changed.... Not a place I wanted to go
 
Tourist creek was pretty tough many many years ago..... Don't think it's changed.... Not a place I wanted to go back too....lol
That's partially why I am drawn to that route. I know there will be a day when I am wise enough not to do it. Lol

Do you recall, Is the higher route that Pallister describes the better option?
 
I have heard higher is better finding a game trail.... Posted somewhere...... Been once so all t
I know is we weren't that high up the slope most places. . Not much help there
 
Similar threads
Thread starter Title Forum Replies Date
andyjaggy Windriver Grasshopper Glacier to Tourist Creek Trip Planning 11
C Arches area walking in the tourist spots Everything Else 2
Perry Tourist Files Complaint About Untrained Grizzlies General Discussion 8
HomerJ Tourist crashes drone into Grand Prismatic Spring General Discussion 17
rinats Canyonlands/Needles: Salt Creek to Chesler Park Trip Planning 6
shredhiker Slough Creek mid June? Trip Planning 11
Spud Salt Creek Canyon question Trip Planning 11
BobFink Mirror Plateau via Pelican Valley and Pelican Creek, July / August 2023 Backpacking 12
Janice Such a GRAND Canyon - Deer Creek / Tapeats / Thunder River Backpacking 21
Jackson Little Rock Creek Backpacking 5
scatman Yellowstone's Thorofare, Headwaters of Thorofare Creek, Majo Pass, Younts Peak, Bob's Canyon, and Cub Creek - August 9, 2023 - Days 7 through 10 Backpacking 34
scatman Yellowstone's Thorofare, Headwaters of Thorofare Creek, Majo Pass, Younts Peak, Bob's Canyon, and Cub Creek - August 9, 2023 - Days 1 through 6 Backpacking 56
J South Crandall Creek and the Hoodoos Wyoming and Yellowstone? Trip Planning 3
CodyL Maple Creek or Duck Creek Drainages-YNP Trip Planning 0
J Pacific Creek or North Buffalo Fork? Teton Wilderness, Thorofare ,etc. Trip Planning 10
I Rescue Creek - Yellowstone National Park - June 3, 2023 Backpacking 15
Dreamer Slough Creek - YNP - 6/5-7/23 Backpacking 3
shredhiker Blacktail Creek June 2023 Backpacking 4
Dreamer Rescue Creek -YNP - 6/3-5/23 Backpacking 3
shredhiker Slough Creek May 2023 Backpacking 11
scatman Rescue Creek - Yellowstone National Park - June 3, 2023 Backpacking 56
Gretchen Millward Trachyte Creek via Woodruff Canyon, April 2023 Backpacking 9
I Slough Creek - Yellowstone June 5 & 6 Meet Up (Members Only) 19
scatman City Creek Loop - April 23, 2023 Hiking & Camping 8
F Thorofare/South Boundary/Wolverine Creek Trip Planning 2
scatman Rescue Creek - Yellowstone National Park Meet Up (Members Only) 19
Janice When might road to Salt Creek TH be ok? Trip Planning 23
BobFink Yellowstone South Entrance to Fox Creek via Basin Creek Cutoff - Labor Day 2022 Trip Reports 4
Janice Professor Creek / Mary Jane Canyon - mid April? Trip Planning 0
scatman North Ridge of City Creek Canyon - February 4, 2023 Hiking & Camping 17
MikeP Exploring/Calf Creek Trip Planning 28
scatman South Ridge of City Creek Canyon - January 28, 2023 Hiking & Camping 4
travel2walk Gros Ventre Wilderness: Granite Creek, West Fork Crystal Creek, Crystal Creek, & Swift Creek - June 2021 Backpacking 8
slieb Lower Muddy Creek in Winter? Trip Planning 7
scatman A Yellowstone Love Story (Bog Creek Euphoria) - September 12, 2022 Backpacking 28
NorthwestWanderer Backpacking Grand Teton National Park : Fossil Pass,Fox Creek Pass,Indian Lake,Alaska Basin,Hurricane Pass,Ice Floe Lake,& Snowdrift Lake Backpacking 19
TractorDoc Yellowstone's Wrangler Lake, Bog Creek, Joseph's Coat Springs, Broad Creek, Wapiti Lake, Hot Springs Basin, and Pelican Valley. The Second Half. Backpacking 15
TractorDoc Yellowstone's Wrangler Lake, Bog Creek, Joseph's Coat Springs, Broad Creek, Wapiti Lake, Hot Springs Basin, and Pelican Valley. Part One of Two. Backpacking 61
scatman Pacific Creek, Moss Lake and Gravel Lake - Teton Wilderness - October 7, 2022 Backpacking 32
TractorDoc Yellowstone's Hayden Valley, Trout Creek, Beach Lake, and Arnica Creek Meadows. September 11, 2022. Hiking & Camping 7
scatman Trout Creek and the Headwaters of Alum Creek - September 11, 2022 Hiking & Camping 17
R Wind River Range: Green River Lakes/Clarks Trail/Porcupine Creek Trail Trip Planning 3
Janice Salt Creek plus... Trip Planning 17
Gretchen Millward Trachyte Creek, April – May 2022 Backpacking 3
XID_AZ Kanab Creek Wilderness - Sowats Canyon - Mountain Sheep Spring Trip Planning 6
balzaccom McGee Creek--Fire (smoke) Rain, Winded and rockslides... Trip Reports 0
John Goering Tobacco Root Mountains South Meadow Creek Off Road 1
SteveR Bull Creek Hills, Alberta Hiking & Camping 5
T Salt Creek this weekend Trip Planning 1
TeamJenkins17 Red Tops/Needle Creek Drainage Info Trip Planning 0

Similar threads

Back
Top